Hydroelectric power units



Sept. M, 1956 J. KALlx HYDROELECTRIC POWER UNITS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 31, 1945 NNN NNW

Sept. 18, 1956 .L KALlx HYDROELECTRIC POWER UNITS Original Filed Aug. 3l, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 rweufoz;

7072,72 Kob/fx Sept. 18, 1956 J. KALlx 2,763,463

HYDROELECTRIC POWER UNITS Original lFiled Aug. 3l, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 :RJ 12% 7/ Mw Sites HY DROELECTRIC POWER UNITS John Kalix, Dayton, Ohio 3 Claims. (Cl. 253-97) (Granted under rfitle 35, U. S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates generally to hydroelectric power units but more particularly to an improved type of water turbine and means for controlling the same. This application is a division of application Serial No. 613,918, filed August 31, 1945, and issued December 16, 1952, as Patent No. 2,621,483.

One object of the invention is to provide a turbine in which hydraulic thrust is eliminated by the compensation of pressures upon the runner blades.

Another object of the invention is to provide a turbine in which the diameter of the rotors may be reduced and consequently the weight and size of its casing without loss of power and eciency.

Another object of the invention is to effect greater etliciency, economy in cost of construction, and space reduction, stability, ease of erection, and reduction of upkeep for turbine power units.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and claimed, it being `understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the figures in which like parts are designated by similar reference characters:

Figure 1 is a sectionized plan view of a form of the improved turbine provided with slidably mounted valve members;

Figure 2 is a partially sectionized elevation of the form of improved turbine shown in Figure 1, the section being taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partially sectionized elevation showing the speed control mechanism;

Figure 4 is a partially sectionized elevation of the speed control mechanism, the section being taken on line 4 4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a sectionized plan view of the speed control mechanism, the section being taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Briefly stated, the power apparatus described herein comprises a turbine in which the runners are constructed with a central hub having blades with opposite stream deecting surfaces mounted on either side thereof.

The hub is adapted to divide the impelling `stream into two sections and the opposite reaction of the blade surfaces functions to eliminate hydraulic thrust on the runner shaft.

The turbine may be constructed with either multiple or single runners mounted on either horizontal o1' vertical shafts, and the impelling stream may be controlled by slidably movable valve members mounted within the throat of the turbine.

The improved turbine which is provided with slidably mounted valve members is shown in Figures 1 and 2. AIn

* atent f* 2,763,463 IC@ Patented Sept 18, 1955 the construction shown in these gures the turbine is provided with a runner 55, having double blades 56 mounted on a single horizontal shaft 57.

Referring to Figure` l, it will be noted that the turbine housing is composed of a scroll casing 53 which partially surrounds the runner 55 and is formed with inlet and outlet tubular extensions 59 and 6i). The scroll casing of the turbine housing is provided with a ange 61 which is bolted to a similar flange 62 of a cover portion 63. The flanges 61 and 62 of the scroll casing and the cover extend in a plane passing through the central axis of the runner shaft 57.

The housing includes side walls 64 and 64 provided with cylindrical openings which are flanged at their circumferences and machined to form bearings 65 and 65 for the reception of slidable valve members 66 and 66', and a spirally-shaped curved wall 67 which forms a channel having a gradually decreasing radius of curvature, which surrounds the runner 55 and conducts the stream to the runner blades S6 as will further be described.

Flange bearing plates 69 and 69 which are bolted to the casing adjacent the circumference of the bearings 65 and 65 are designed to function as bearing members for the runner shaft 57. The bearing plates 69 and 69 are conical in shape, and are flanged at their base to provide for attachment to the casing. The bearing plates are each provid-ed with inwardly projecting sleeve portions which serve as bearings 70 and 7d for the rotation of the runner shaft 57.

The runner shaft 57 extends between the bearings 7) and 70 in which it is mounted and beyond said bearings at the ends thereof to provide portions for the attachment of an internal gear 72 and a sprocket or pulley wheel 161. The internal gear 72 is mounted within a circular housing 73 which is composed of a circular cover plate 74 and a anged rim 75 which is attached to the cover plate 69. The anged rim 75 is bolted to the cover plate 69 and to the cover plate 7d. The cover plate 74 is provided with a centrally located bearing 76 in which a generator shaft 77 rotates. The generator (not shown) is inclosed within a casing 78 which ma be attached to a concrete foundation.

The cover plate 74 of the gear housing 73 is also provided with circular openings 79 and 79 around which the plate 74 is of increased thickness to form supports for trunnions 80 and titl on which are rotatably mounted gears 81 and S1 which mesh with the internal gear 72 and with a gear 82 keyed to the generator shaft 77.

The turbine housing is provided with three annular channels, comprising a central intake channel 83 and outlet channels 84 and 84 located on either side of the intake channel, said channels being separated by intermediate partitions 85 and 85 encircling the blade rings 88 and 88 and having widened portions 86 and 86 which provide circular bearing surfaces 87 and 87 for the blade rings 88 and 83 of the runner 55 as will be further described.

The runner is formed with a hub S9 which is keyed centrally to the runner shaft 57 and which is of greatest diameter at its center and gradually tapers oif toward the ends of the shaft, to form arcuate surfaces 90 and 90 adapted to deiect the incoming stream toward the outlet channels 84 and 84' of the housing. To the hub are attached a plurality of blades 56, the outer edges of which are curved to approximate the curved contour of slidable Valve members 66 and 66 which are mounted within the cylindrical bearing surfaces 65 and 65 at either side of the casing.

It will be noted from the direction of the arrows in Figure l that the incoming stream passes from the central intake channel across the blades 56 and then through each of the outlet channels 84 and 84 into the outlet tubular portion 60 of the casing. As shown in Figure 2, fixed guide vanes 120 are positioned encircling the runner 55. These guide varies 120 serve to deflect the Huid flow tangentially of the runner 55 as that ow leaves the central intake channel 83.

A type of mechanism as shown in Figures l to 5, inclusive, may be used to control slidable valve members shown in connection with the turbine illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The latter mechanism effects the movement of the slidable valve members 66 and 66 according to the speed of the generator either to restrict or enlarge the path of the stream through the throat of the turbine.

The control mechanism comprises a power cylinder 93 which is divided centrally by a web 94 which extends to a central operating shaft 95 on which is keyed a vane 96. Rotary movement of the blades of the vane 96 within their respective sectors 98 and 98 of the cylinder 93 is controlled by means of governor operated needle 'valves 102 and 102. The governor 99, which is operated by a transmission belt 100 coupled to pulley wheel 101 on runner shaft 57, alternately actuates the needle valves 102 and 102 to allow the inlet and outlet of water to the opposite sectors 98 and 98 of the cylinder 93 to thereby move the vane 96 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The vane is rotated in either direction by the pressure of water which is admitted to the sectors 98 and 98 of the power cylinder or vane casing 93 through either of the tubes 103 or 103 which are connected with the head water through tubes 104, 104 and 105. The needle valve 102. when open admits water through tube 103 to sector 98 and the needle valve 102 when open admits water through tube 103 to sector 98. The needle valves 102 and 102 are automatically controlled by the speed governor 99 of the type shown or any other suitable type governor either electrically or mechanically operated, and which is designed to actuate the rocker arm 106 to open one valve as it closes the other. The vane 96 and the shaft 95 are provided with passages 107 and 107' which permit water to llow therethrough from one sector of the cylindrical housing 93 to the other. Thus, when the valve 102 (see Figure 3) is open, water under head pressure is admitted to sector 98 (see Figure and through the communicating passage 107 to sector 98 to rotate the vane 96 in a clockwise direction. Water remaining in the portions of the sectors on either side of the communicating passage 107 is ejected through tube 103 and passes through the valve 102 into tubes '108, 109 and 110 to the ejectors 111 and 111', thence it passes through the ejector tubes 112 and 112 to the outlet tube 60. When valve 102 is open water under head pressure is admitted to sector 98 and through the communieating passage 107 to sector 9S to rotate vane 96 in counterclockwise direction. Water remaining in the portions of the sectors on either side of the communicating passage 107 is ejected through tube 103' and passes through tubes 108', 109, 110 to the ejectors 111 and 111 and thence through ejector tubes 112 and 112 to the outlet tube 60. Although tubes S and 108 are not valved, the tendency of tluid pressure to exert itself in all directions will cause that pressure to be exerted into sectors 93 and 98 on the opening of either valve 102 or 102 because one side of vane 96 is always at a pressure less than the head pressure of the system.

The power cylinder 93 operates a two-way hydraulic valve 114 which functions to either admit head water to the throat valve chambers 68 and 68' or to the ejectors 111 and 111. The hydraulic valve 114 comprisesY a segment shaped casing 114 which is located below the cylindrical casing 93 and contains therein an angularly movable valve member 115 which is keyed to the shaft 95 and which is controlled by the vane 96. The valve member functions to open and close ports 116 and.116 in the segment shaped casing 114 to allowghead water entering therein through the tube 117 to pass through either of the tubes 118 or 118 to tubes 110 or 119 and thereby enter either the ejectors 111 and 111' or the throat valve chambers 68 and 68 either to extend or restrict the passage of waterrotating the runner blades 56.

The turbine shown is equipped with runners having double sets of symmetrically formed blades which divide the impelling stream entering the throat of the turbine through the intake channel and deflect the resulting streams. laterally into the outlet channels. The division and lateral deection of the impelling stream prevents lateral thrusts on the runner shaft and thereby provides a smoothly rotating runner and consequently a turbine of high efciency which is substantially free from vibration.

1n the turbine as shown in Figures 1 to 5, the amount of low of the impelling stream is controlled by the slidably mounted throat gates or valve members 66 and 66 which vary the area of the throat or that portion of the casing in which the runner revolves thus increasing or decreasing the speed of the runner. Head water is conveyed either to the throat valve chambers 68 and 68' or to ejectors 111 and 111 responsive to the speed of the runner as sensed by the governor 99 as described above. Because valves 116 and 116 open only alternately, head water flowing through tubes into ejector 111 creates a sufiiciently low pressure in chambers 68 and 68 to cause valve members 66 and 66 to be held seated against cover plates 69 and 69' in spite of the existence of low pressures within the turbine'throat on the faces of valve members 66 and 66 and adjacent to the discharge scroll of the turbine. The flow of head water through tubes 119 into chambers 68 and 68' and thence into ejectors 111, which in this instance act only as discharge tubes, conveys the head pressure into charnbers 68 and 68', increasing the pressure sufciently to cause valve members 66 and 66 to move toward runner blades 56.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A hydraulic turbine comprising a scroll casing enclosing a pair of spiral outlet channels communicating with a common outlet conduit, a central spiral intake channel intermediate the outlet channels and a central throat communicating with the channels and extending entirely through the casing; the casing having an outer wall defining chambers at the ends of the throat between the outlet channels and theV exterior of the casing; cover plates secured to the casing covering the ends of the throat and closing the outer ends of the chambers; a runner shaft centered in the throat andchambers and supported by the cover plates; a runner mounted on the runner shaft and extending from one outlet channel to the other outlet channel; a slidable valve member mounted on the shaft in each chamber for reciprocal movement toward and away from the runner and closing the interior ends of the chambers; a first head water tube communicating with each chamber; an exhaust tube communicating with each chamber and with the common outlet conduit, said exhaust tube including an ejector; a second head water tube communicating with each ejector; a governor driven by the runner shaft; and a valve controlled by the governor to admit head Water selectively to the rst and second head water tubes alternately, whereby passage of head water through the first head water tubes into the chambers operates the slidable valve member toward the runner and passage of head water through the second head water tubes and the ejectors operates the slidable valve members away from the runner. i

2. A hydraulic turbine comprising a scroll casing enclosing a pair of spiral outlet channels communicating with a common outlet conduit, a central spiral intake channel intermediate the outlet channels, and a central throat communicating with the channelsV and extending entirely through the casing; the casing having an outer wall detining chambers at the ends of the throat between the outlet channels and the exterior of the casing; cover plates secured to the casing covering the ends of the throat and closing the outer ends of the chambers; a runner shaft centered in the throat and chambers and supported by the cover plates; a runner including a fusiform hub with an enlarged central portion tapering to each end mounted on the runner shaft with the enlarged portion centered on the supply channel, elongated blades radially arranged on the hub extending parallel to the shaft and terminating adjacent to the outlet channels, and a blade ring surrounding the blades on each side of the enlarged portion of the hub and each bearing on that part of the casing forming the division between the supply channel and an outlet channel; a slidable valve member mounted on the shaft in each chamber for reciprocal movement toward and away from the runner and closing the interior ends of the chambers; a first head water tube communicating with each chamber; an exhaust tube cornmunicating with each chamber and with the common outlet conduit; said exhaust tube including an ejector; a second head water tube communicating with each ejector; a governor driven by the runner shaft; and a valve controllcd by the governor to admit head water selectively to the first and second head water tubes alternately whereby passage of head water through the rst head water tubes ntothe chambers operates the slidable valve memberstoward the runner and passage of head water through the second head water tubes and the ejectors operates the slidable valve members away from the runner.

3. A power transmitting unit comprising in combination a prime mover, including an inlet conduit, an outlet conduit, and a scroll casing, said casing being provided with intermediate partitions dividing the same into a central intake channel and laterally spaced outlet channels, said casing and said partitions terminating centrally in cylindrical bearing surfaces, cover plates provided with centrally located shaft bearings concentric with said bearing surfaces and supported by said casing, a runner shaft mounted within said bearings and extending therebetween and to the exterior of one of the said cover plates, a runner having a central hub supporting right and left hand symmetrical blades, said blades coacting with the cylindrical bearing surfaces formed by the said intermediate partitions, said hub being keyed upon said shaft, hydraulically operated valve members slidably mounted upon said shaft forming chambers on either end of the shaft deined by the said cover plates, the said casing cylindrical bearing surfaces, and the runner shaft, said valve members coacting with the said casing cylindrical bearing surfaces and conforming in shape to the lateral edges of the said blades, and adapted to move along the said shaft to and from the lateral edges of the said blades, drive means coming olf the runner shaft and control means connected to the drive means and including a governor located at the inlet conduit, hydraulic valves alternately actuated by the governor for feeding part of the incoming stream at the inlet conduit selectively into the said chambers and to the outlet conduit in accordance with the speed of the runner shaft, whereby the area. surrounding the lateral edges of the blades contiguous.I to the laterally spaced outlet channels is altered by the movement of the slidable valve members and the ow of the impelling stream is regulated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 298,875 Millard May 20, 1884 658,297 Taylor Sept. 18, 1900 852,779 Ellicott May 7, 1907 962,364 Lee June 21, 1910 1,475,966 Peterson Dec. 4, 1923 1,583,415 Moody May 4, 1926 1,704,375 Taylor Mar. 5, 1929 2,152,651 Kinzie et al. Apr. 4, 1939 2,298,964 Pepin Oct. 13, 1942 2,621,483 Kalix Dec. 16, 1952 

